crush

[ kruhsh ]

verb (used with object)

1. to press or squeeze with a force that destroys or deforms.

   Synonyms: rumple, crumple

2. to squeeze or pound into small fragments or particles, as ore, stone, etc.

   Synonyms: crumble, mash, powder, pulverize

3. to force out by pressing or squeezing; extract:

   to crush cottonseeds in order to produce oil.

4. to rumple; wrinkle; crease.
5. to smooth or flatten by pressure:

   to crush leather.

6. to hug or embrace forcibly or strongly:

   He crushed her in his arms.

7. to destroy, subdue, or suppress utterly:

   to crush a revolt.

   Synonyms: quash, overcome, quell

8. to overwhelm with confusion, chagrin, or humiliation, as by argumentation or a slighting action or remark; squelch.
9. to oppress grievously.
10. Archaic. to finish drinking (wine, ale, etc.).

verb (used without object)

1. to become crushed.
2. to advance with crushing; press or crowd forcibly.

noun

1. the act of crushing; state of being crushed.
2. a great crowd:

   a crush of shoppers.

3. Informal.
   1. an intense but usually short-lived infatuation with someone.
   2. the object of such an infatuation:

      Who's your latest crush?

verb phrase

1. Informal. to have an infatuation with; have a crush on:

   She’s been crushing on him for a year.

crush

¹

/ krʌʃ /

verb

1. to press, mash, or squeeze so as to injure, break, crease, etc
2. to break or grind (rock, ore, etc) into small particles
3. to put down or subdue, esp by force

   to crush a rebellion

4. to extract (juice, water, etc) by pressing

   to crush the juice from a lemon

5. to oppress harshly
6. to hug or clasp tightly

   he crushed her to him

7. to defeat or humiliate utterly, as in argument or by a cruel remark
8. intr to crowd; throng
9. intr to become injured, broken, or distorted by pressure

noun

1. a dense crowd, esp at a social occasion
2. the act of crushing; pressure
3. a drink or pulp prepared by or as if by crushing fruit

   orange crush

4. informal.
   1. an infatuation

      she had a crush on him

   2. the person with whom one is infatuated

crush

²

/ krʌʃ /

noun

1. vet science a construction designed to confine and limit the movement of an animal, esp a large or dangerous animal, for examination or to perform a procedure on it

Derived Forms

• ˈcrusher, noun
• ˌcrushaˈbility, noun
• ˈcrushable, adjective

Other Words From

• crusha·ble adjective
• crusha·bili·ty noun
• crusha·bly adverb
• crusher noun
• un·crusha·ble adjective
• un·crushed adjective
• well-crushed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of crush¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English cruschen, crusshen, from Middle French croi(s)sir, cruisir “to gnash one's teeth, make a crashing or cracking sound, crackle, rustle, smash,” Medieval Latin cruscīre “to crackle,” from Germanic; compare Gothic kriustan “to crunch, grind,” Old Swedish krusa, krosa “to crush,” krȳsta “to gnash (one's teeth),” Middle Low German krossen “to crush”

Word History and Origins

Origin of crush¹

C14: from Old French croissir, of Germanic origin; compare Gothic kriustan to gnash; see crunch

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. crush it, Informal. to do something very well and with enthusiasm.

More idioms and phrases containing crush

see have a crush on .

Synonym Study

See break.

Example Sentences

Models purposefully walked down the runway in flowing suits of crushed velvet and satin, matching leather mini-shorts and jackets, sequined hot pants and tank top sets in yellow smiley graphics and graffiti print.

From Los Angeles Times

With Miocic backed up against the cage, Jones unleashed a crushing spinning back kick to the body which dropped the challenger, before the referee stepped in to end the contest.

From BBC

After two drives, Maiava was a meager two for seven with a crushing pick-six — concerning enough to hush a Coliseum crowd that hoped he might be the answer to what ailed USC’s offense.

From Los Angeles Times

“For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health.”

From Science Magazine

Announcing Kennedy's nomination, Trump said Americans had for too long been "crushed" by food and drug companies engaging in "deception, misinformation, and disinformation".

From BBC

Related Words

• horde
• multitude
• throng